Mat.



W. YATES.

MAT.

APPLIQATION FILED MAR.20,1911.

1,019,212. Patented Mar. 5. 1912.

Sn uenfoz MZZia/m/ Elks,

after/mu @ZQM W LLIAM YATE UP ER A LL NOI Specification of Letters Patent.

Appli atio file Ma h 20 latented Mar- .5, 1912. Serial N10. 615,564.

To all whom it mayconcer-n:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM gr'arns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Upper Alton, in the county of Madison and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mats, of which the following is a specification, reference beng had to th ac omp nying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mats, and more particularly to a mat adapted for use in bath tubs and my object is to provide a mat of this character which may be placed in the bot tom of the tub to prevent slipping by persons using the tub.

A further object of my invention resides in providing a mat of rubber or rubber composition having corrugations on both sides thereof and a still further object is to provide corrugations on the mat so disposed as to allow the water to be drained therefrom.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing means whereby the mat will not be weakened in the provision of the means for draining the water from the mat.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved mat. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof as seen on line 2-2, Fig. 1, and, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section as seen on line 33, Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention, I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in rugations extending atan angle to one another and the inner ends thereof spaced said mat will not be weakened to an from one anothegito provide the longitudinal channels 4 and 5, respectively, -thenebetween, the channel on ,oneside of the mat :1 being disposed to one side .of the longitudinal. center thereof, while the channel on the oppesite' side oa -said mat is d po ed on h other side of the longitudinal center thereof.. Th s h ml ls whi h are form d between the inner ends of the sets of corrugations, are provided so that the water between the corrugations may be drained therefrom when desired, without removing the mat from the tub, and by disposing the channels on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the mat, it will be seen that y p preciable degree, as would be true if the channels were direct-1y opposite one another on opposite sides of the mat.

In order to carry out the idea of draining the Water from the mat without removing the same, I desire to have said mat tapered and increased in thickness toward one end thereof, and that end which is thinnest, is provided with a cavity or recess 6 to rovide for the drain pipe of the tub and to which the channels of said mat lead. Thus it will be seen that when the water is being from the mat without removing the same, in View of the channels and the tapering of said mat.

It is a well known fact that tubs of the new porcelain type, become extremely slippery When water 1s placed therein and many serious accidents have occurred through the lack of a device-to prevent slipping when bathin in said tubs. This is particularly true with aged people who find great difli-' culty in bathing in such tubs, but with a drained from the tub, it will likewise drain I device such as I have invented, it will be seen that these difliculties which have been. experienced will be readily overcome;

I am aware that rubber mats have been invented before having various designs formed thereon, but no means have been provided for use in bath tubs for which mine is adapted to be used. It will be seen that when such a mat as mine is placed within the tub,'no matter how slippery, the person may stand thereon with no possibility whatsoever of slipping, and with the corrugations formed therein, as I have described, the water is adapted to be drained therefrom Without removing said mat. Furthermore, b providing the channels, which aid in the draining of the mat, on opposite sides ofthe longitudinal center, no weakness will be formed in the mat proper, as would be true if said channels were disposed directly opposite one another, and it will still further be seen that by providing amat which is tapered in thickness, the water will be more readily drained therefrom. It will still further be seen that by providing a recess in one end of the mat to which the channels lead, that a means is provided for the drain pipe in the tub to be readily reached by the water being drained from said mat. It will still further be seen that the device is of such simple construction as to be cheaply manufactured and one which is extremely effective in operation.

What I claim is A mat of the class described, having corrugations formed thereon and provided at one end with a cavity, said mat being decreased in thickness toward the end having the cavit therein and provided with a channel leading through said corrugations to said cavity.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of tWo witnesses.

WILLIAM YATES.

\Vitnesses EMILY YATES, RAYMOND N. CARR, 

